Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-04-02
The Old Maids Story.

Deacon Smith brought me let
ter. 1t was from my nephew Tom
and read:
DEAR OLD AUNTIE: Spec. was
n.g. What's to become of Hetty and
the baby7 Your unlucky Tom.
leaned back from my half eaten
supper, showed my spcctacles on
my intellectual forehead, and
wrinkled my pug nose with disa
greeable thoughts. 1tseemed that
| had not escaped domestic trou.
bic by refusing twenty years be-
fore to marry Hiram Glimwood.-
Single life had its vexationS, too.
Tom was my favorite nephew-my
dear sisters only chlld-and from
the time | took him from hisnurse's
IN petticoats and brought him
home to be the JOY and torment OF
my life he has kept me stirred up.
Measles and mistakes we're the
principal themes Of his baby days
and love and lawlessness attacked
him in turn as he grew older.
never drew a free breath till he was
safely married to a pretty little
Hattie Maynard, our minister's
daughter, who had the sense OF
the family and the good looks, too
l was most as muchsi love with
.heras-T Tom was; but-sshe had one
fault-She didn't see through Tom,
and thought his wild goose chases
were sensible, legitimate ways OF
making money. always could
take care of my money and myself,
Giving Tom money was like pour.
ing water through q seive. But
Hattie believed that Tom was the
greatest business man in the world
She believed everything that boy
told her and even persuaded me
into believing in him too.
Now he had done it. had ad.
vanced him $1,000 of the modest
inheritance that would be his upon
my death, OH his sacred assurance
that,he would double tie money
and return me that sum. And ht
had gone and lost every dollar Of
it.
Tile lame and the lazy are al
ways provided for, thought bit
terly.
OF course Hette and the baby
cannot starve. Iii go down to the
city and bring them up till Tom
gels something TO do,-the scamp!
Now,I am an old maid and live
alone since Tom married, and il
didn't take me long to shut the
house up. l lent the cat to my next
door neighbor, told her she might
have him for his to keep till Icame
back, and the bird l took with Inc
for safe keeping. Somehow, as. ]
was getting ready to go, my heart
grew light and before l knew it ]
was singing an old love song,
though what put 1t into my head
/ can't tell. It's twenty years since
Hiram GrimwOOd went to CalilOrn
ia, and L reckon he's been dead the
most of the time, OF married, (which
is about the same.
When | had put Oh all my things
with my back to the glass | turned
around and there stood strange
woman. She gave me an awful
stare.
Then | saw it was myself and
laughed and laughed. | had OIL
the same black bombazine dress
aud bonnet L wore when TOMS
mother died, and as that was about
fourteen years ago they had come
back in fashion, and | looked quite
stylish, and ever since l had the
fever my hair was cut short anC
curly, and it hung over my eyes
just The way the girls wear it now
adays. declare l looked so young
L didn't know myself. Well, its d
true saying that there's 10 fools
like old fools, and the Lord didn't
make any exception OF me.
When got to the station every
body stared at me as if l was I
show; ] did not take any baggage
cause l warn't going to stay. Sc
| only had Il box with clean calico
III it, and d bundle OF sweet herb;
for the baby, and some new shirt
for Tom, and the bird cage, and ;
clock l wanted to get repaired il
the city.
'All aboardp yelled the conduc
tor.
Il don't see any board,' L said
promptly and man gripped Id
by the arm and pulled me on jus
as the cars started.
Then ! heard some one ask:
WHO is the innocent old partyi
But | didn't see any party, aud
guess they got left.
| Talk OF adventures. l coul